Official Production Notes

The first, and one of the most innovative, of the seasons's holiday
television specials is a Thanksgiving treat from 20th Century-Fox
Television entitled "THE STAR WARS HOLIDAY SPECIAL"
to air FRIDAY, NOV. 17 over CBS-TV from 8:00 to 10:00 P.M. (EST).

The two-hour visual and audio delight stars the cast from the
hit motion picture, "Star Wars," along with special
guest stars in a live-animated-musical-pot pourri of pure entertainment
complete with astonishing electronic special effects.

Interplanetary guests are Beatrice Arthur as the proprietor of
the wackiest bar out-of-this-world; Art Carney, as an other-worldly
door-to-door salesman; The Jefferson Starship; Harvey Korman in
variety of weird personalities, including Chef Gormaanda, "The
Julia Child of the Milky Way," and Diahann Carroll singing
an original composition.

Executive Producers Gary Smith and Dwight Hemion have skillfully
blended original animation, music, spectacular electronic effects,
live action and the performances of the stars around a story of
the famed Wookiee "Chewbacca" returning to his Wookiee
home on the space ship piloted by Harrison Ford.

Eagerly awaiting his return are his wife, Malla, his father,
the silver-furred Itchy and his mischievious son, Lumpy, who are
being given a bad time by Darth Vader's Imperial Forces because
of their alleged rebel activities.

Smith and Hemion and Producers Ken and Mitzie Welch and Joe Layton
had a veritable treasure trove of background information of "Wookiee"
lifestyle garnered from a 40-page "bible" prepared for,
but never used, in connection with the original motion picture.

The first thing the producers did when given the assignment from
20th Century-Fox in May was hire Jean DeJoux and Elizabeth Savel,
along with Nelvana Limited to begin work immediately on an animated
sequence. "The Star Wars Holiday Special" is based on
a script by Rod Warren, Bruce Vilanch, Pat Proft, Leonard Ripps
and Mitzie Welch, and directed by Steve Binder.

Musical Director Ian Fraser utilized the theme music from the
motion picture and added three original songs with music and lyrics
by Mitzie and Ken Welch.

In a project as vast as this the costuming and makeup proved
an integral factor with Bob Mackie credited with the overall costume
design; Stan Winston, Tom Burman and Ellis Burman for the Wookiee
costumes; the Chewbacca costume was designed by Stuart Freeborn
and Cantina Masks by Rick Baker and Freeborn.